Read and Review #31 - Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance (Penny Reid)

Title: Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance (Knitting in the City #1)

Author: Penny Reid

Publication date: 14 March 2013

Publisher: Caped Publishing

Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

There are three things you need to know about Janie Morris: 

1) She is incapable of engaging in a conversation without volunteering TMTI (Too Much Trivial Information), especially when she is unnerved, 

2) No one unnerves her more than Quinn Sullivan, and 

3) She doesn't know how to knit. 

After losing her boyfriend, apartment, and job in the same day, Janie Morris can't help wondering what new torment fate has in store. To her utter mortification, Quinn Sullivan- aka Sir McHotpants- witnesses it all then keeps turning up like a pair of shoes you lust after but can't afford. The last thing she expects is for Quinn- the focus of her slightly, albeit harmless, stalkerish tendencies- to make her an offer she can't refuse.

My rating:
4 / 5

My review:
By the mighty power of Thor!

I can relate to Janie badly because I love reading about random trivias and spewing them in awkward situations. I've been reading a bunch of books where the characters have "weird" habits but I really like Janie's weirdness the most. Maybe not so much weird than awkward. Janie is definitely awkward.

There's McDreamy and McSteamy. And then there's Quinn Sullivan a.k.a Sir Handsome McHotpants. I'm not one for silly nicknames but I don't know why I can tolerate this one. I even liked it!

When I started reading this book, I was terribly happy to read about the possibility of falling in love with a security guard. I mean, how often do you read about falling in love with someone whose occupation is not in the generic group of high-powered, influencal jobs (CEOs, lawyers, businessmen, musicians)? But my dream was soon crushed when I found out that Quinn was actually a CEO, CIO, CFO and COO. Oh yes, he's all that. 

Although I don't know how he did that AND manage have a social life at the same time without. And then I remember that this is not real and no one can possibly be all that and not go crazy. 

I don't find many office romances that doesn't immediately lead to hot sex and constant lusting over the boss. Although, I am still in search of an excellent romance book between co-workers who are not in a boss-employee relationship. That being said, this is still a really good book for those who likes office romances.

Putting that aside, the background of the story is quite mediocre. Jon's half-assed attempt to keep Janie by his side, Jem's involved with a gang (probably a drug lord) and then there's the thing with Quinn's parents that Janie eventually figured out but never told anyone (even us, the readers).

I wasn't disappointed when it comes to the smart part of this book. I would sometimes re-read the trivias that Janie referred to in almost every chapter of the book. However, the knitting part really threw me off because there's not much knitting done throughout the book. Janie didn't even knit!

It's a good book with intelligence and fluff. Not so much drama but then again, not so much drama. It's funny, light and smart albeit the lack in enthusiasm poured into the back story. Definitely continuing with the rest of the series.

Read and Review #30 - Desperately Seeking Suzanna (Elizabeth Michels)

Title: Desperately Seeking Suzanna (Tricks of the Ton #2)

Author: Elizabeth Michels

Publication date: 4 March 2014

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Get a copy! Amazon | Google Play Store | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Her Cinderella Moment

Sue Green just wanted one night to be the pretty one. But a few glasses of champagne and one wild disguise later,

she’s in some serious trouble. Who knew the devastatingly handsome face of Lord Holden Ellis would get in the way of her foot? And how exactly did all that high-kick dancing start in the first place? At least she blamed it all on her new persona—Suzanna. So Society’s most eligible bachelor will never find out the truth.

All Holden wants is the truth. Who was that vixen who seduced him so thoroughly, then disappeared? The only one who seems to have any answers about Suzanna is Miss Sue Green. She’s promised to help him find his mystery woman, but in truth she’s not being all that helpful. And in truth, the more time Holden spends with Sue—witty, pretty, and disarmingly honest—the more he realizes he may have found exactly what he’s been looking for all along...

My rating:
5 / 5

My review:

Sue Green secretly crashed a party with her cousins and sister, got drunk and kicked Lord Holden Ellis in the nose, breaking it. Since it was a masquerade ball, she was masked and declared herself to be Suzanna, her very brazen alter ego. They indulged in one night of passion, only to be cut short by the reveal at the end of the party. Caught by her mother, all her make-up were removed and the accessories on her dress were ripped off and Sue was forced to leave early. She decided to hang out a little more and when she encountered Holden again sans make-up, he didn't recognize her.

Heartbroken, she fled and vowed to never speak or see Holden ever again. Yeah right. Holden however, thought that Suzanna had simply left him. And soon began his desperate search for the woman who had enticed and fascinated him. 

This story reminded me so much of An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn (I am obsessed with Julia Quinn) with different story lines. Benedict wasn't as obsessed as Holden and Sue wasn't as outspoken as Sophie. The only similarities were the masquerade ball, the evil mother and someone was always left heartbroken. 

The events in this book coincide with the first book and even then I already knew what was going on before I found out the title of this book. It's a less dramatic book aside from Holden's crazy mother. Even his crazy mother didn't make enough appearance to make her threats seem dangerous. The build-up to Sue's confrontation with Holden's mother was rather tame but understandably reasonable.

It's a good read for those not looking for swooning ladies and terribly arrogant heroes. A perfect read for those who love a stud and plain jane romance. I enjoyed it immensely and I am looking forward to more of this author's work.

Read and Review #29 - Must Love Dukes (Elizabeth Michels)

Title: Must Love Dukes (Tricks of the Ton #1)

Author: Elizabeth Michels

Publication date: 4 February 2014

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

She Can't Resist the Dare

Lillian Phillips could not imagine how her quiet, simple life had come to this. Blackmailed by the Mad Duke of Thornwood into accepting one wild dare after another...all because of a pocket watch. Desperate to recover her beloved father's pawned timepiece, Lily did something reckless and dangerous and delicious—something that led to a night she'd never forget. 

He has a Reputation for Scandal

When Devon Grey, Duke of Thornwood, runs into a mesmerizing, intoxicating, thieving woman who literally stole from his bedchamber—with his new pocket watch—Devon plots his revenge. If the daring wench likes to play games, he's happy to oblige. After all, what's the use of being the Mad Duke if you can't have some fun? But the last laugh might just be on him...

My rating:

4 / 5

My review:

I believe this is a debut book by Elizabeth Michels and it's not that bad. I enjoyed this book and I think that there should more authors venturing into the historical romance genre.

It's a refreshing read because while Lilly and Devon have sort of a love-hate relationship, it's not like most of relationships in historical romances, especially the love-hate ones are usually based on rumors and misunderstandings. Devon was angry with Lilly because she stole from him and left without an explanation after one night of hot romance.

A year later, they met again in a different setting. Still angry at Lilly, Devon blackmailed her into playing a game that led to scandalous events. It was no wonder he was called the Mad Duke of Thornwood, he loves doing mischievous things and say the most inappropriate things at parties. In other words, he's equivalent to Barney Stinson in the modern day.

The attraction between them rekindled the more they spend time with each other. Devon's mischiefs are hilarious, not mad. And Lilly is the perfect anchor for him to not go aboard and put his attitude in check. 

Usually, it's the hero who did the running but here, it was the heroine. Their chemistry is electric and I find myself loving them more towards the end. And not to mention Lilly's gay brother. I mean, how many gays can you find in historical romances (the ones that are not homosexual themed)? 

It's not bad for a debut novel. The banter between Lilly and Devon is fun to read and I am thoroughly entertained throughout the book. Definitely looking forward for more of this author's work!

Read and Review #26 - Romancing the Duke (Tessa Dare)

Title: Romancing the Duke (Castles Ever After #1)

Author: Tessa Dare

Publication date: 28 January 2014

Publisher: Avon

Get a copy! Amazon | Google Play Store | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

In the first in Tessa Dare's captivating Castles Ever After series, a mysterious fortress is the setting for an unlikely love...

As the daughter of a famed author, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight grew up on tales of brave knights and fair maidens. She never doubted romance would be in her future, too. The storybooks offered endless possibilities.

And as she grew older, Izzy crossed them off. One by one by one.

Ugly duckling turned swan?

Abducted by handsome highwayman?

Rescued from drudgery by charming prince?

No, no, and… Heh.

Now Izzy’s given up yearning for romance. She’ll settle for a roof over her head. What fairy tales are left over for an impoverished twenty-six year-old woman who’s never even been kissed?

This one.

My rating: 
4 / 5

My review:
What do I love more than historical romances? Dukes.

AND...

Baby Edward Duke Rancic by the way. I got carried away in my search for dukes and spent 10 minutes cooing over baby pictures instead.

Moving on.

In this book, we have a disgruntled duke. And disabled on top of that. The Duke of Rothbury, or better known as Ransom, is a good looking man with a cold heart and indifferent demeanour towards those around him. Not that strange in the 19th century aristocracy. Seven months prior to the event that took place in his castle at the beginning of this story, he was involved in an altercation which left him blinded along with a scar from brow to his temple. It was in this condition when he was met with Isolde Goodnight, nicknamed Izzy.

Izzy Goodnight was the daughter of a famous author who wrote a popular book series, The Goodnight Tales. Since a young age, she had always dreamed of having her own romantic love story but as she grew older, one by one of her romantic fantasies were shed off due to her acceptance to reality. She wasn't one of those heroines who were pretty and couldn't see her true beauty. No, she had already accepted that she wasn't going to be one of those pretty swans in the lake. And she's fine with that.

“Don’t tell me you’re one of those women with radical ideas.”

“No,” she returned. “I’m one of those women with nothing. There are a great many of us."

A misunderstanding caused Ransom and Izzy to stay in the same building, sorting out their living arrangement with each other. Ransom, ashamed of his actions more than his looks didn't expect Izzy to be compassionate towards him. Izzy on the other hand, finally found someone who would know her as she is and not based on the books in which she became the famous Little Izzy. 

I enjoyed this book because I do really love historical romances. It gives out a different vibe than contemporary romances and this book is no exception. Izzy is not traditionally beautiful or a hidden gem. She's a plain looking woman with wild hair. Ransom wouldn't even give her a chance if he was locked with her in a room for a few hours. 

The fact that he's blind left him no chance to get to know someone other than talking to him or her. He can no longer decide whether he wants to talk to a person strictly based on how they looked like. The situation suited Izzy because she was done being treated as Little Izzy instead of Isolde. This whole idea is interesting to me. She didn't became a raging beauty overnight, her personality showed her inner beauty instead.

It's an almost perfect story if it weren't for the missing pieces that were never recovered towards the end. There has to be more to the altercation that caused Ransom to lose his sight. Because really, one slash to one side of the face could leave both eyes blinded?

Overall, it's a good story. Focusing on Izzy and Ransom's relationship alone, and hell everything else would diminish into the background. If this is how Tessa Dare writes historical romances, then I have to get to work and read her other books.

Read and Review #22 - Kiss The Sky (Krista & Becca Ritchie)

Title: Kiss the Sky

Author: Krista & Becca Ritchie

Publication date: 22 January 2014

Publisher: K.B. Ritchie (Independent Book Publishers Association)

Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Virgin. Sex addict. Daredevil. Alcoholic. Smartass … Jackass. Her five friends are about to be filmed. Reality TV, be prepared.

Rose Calloway thought she had everything under control. At twenty-three, she’s a Princeton graduate, an Academic Bowl champion, a fashion designer and the daughter of a Fortune 500 mogul. But with a sex addict as a sister and roommate, nothing comes easy.

After accepting help from a producer, Rose agrees to have her life filmed for a reality television show. The Hollywood exec is her last chance to revive her struggling fashion line, and boundaries begin to blur as she’s forced to make nice with a man who always has his way.

Twenty-four-year-old Connor Cobalt is a guy who bulldozes weak men. He’s confident, smart-as-hell and lives with his equally ambitious girlfriend, Rose Calloway. Connor has to find a way to protect Rose without ruining the show. Or else the producer will get what Connor has always wanted—Rose’s virginity.

This New Adult Standalone Romance can be described as Friends meets The Real World. Expect fist fights, drugs, sex of varying degrees, crude humor and competitive alpha males. Definitely for mature readers audiences only.

My rating:
5 / 5

My review:
A very concupiscent read!

Kiss the Sky is a spin off from the Addicted series written by the Ritchie twins. It is a standalone but please, PLEASE read the Addicted series. You'll get to know more about Rose and Connor and the history of their relationship. Not only that, you'll also fall in love with Lily, Lo, Ryke and Daisy as well. It's a rarity to fall in love with all the major couples at the same time but Krista and Becca manage to do that without taking the limelight out of the couple in focus. Each character development is parallel with the storyline, maintaining the focus of the story while getting to know them more in the process. 

When Rose was introduced in Addicted to You, I didn't really have a high opinion of her. She came across as frigid, strict and always try to inject herself in Lily's life. That was before I knew how important her presence is in her sister's life. Rose is the mother Lily desperately needed and from there I began to build my respect towards her.

I was very wary of Connor at first because of his tendency to hang out with people who benefits him. His confidence is his most prominent feature and I was reassured by his calm demeanour whenever Loren or Lily started to crack. To me, Connor has all the qualities of a leader and without a doubt I saw him as the leader of the group soon after. His famous bromance with Loren was a result of constant rebuttals from Loren's sharp tongue in his drinking days. And yes, I do ship them together. 

This book is so much different than the Addicted series. We get to see Rose and Connor as individuals who were affected by the scandal surrounding Lily and Loren. As a sister. As a friend. They are the adults that kept their little group of six together. And Rose wanted to show the world that they were in fact normal people with problems, not spoiled rich kids who lounge around spending their parents' money. And so Princesses of Philly was born.

Now, I watch Keeping Up with the Kardashians. I sometimes love it, sometimes I don't. Reality television opens a new channel for ordinary people like myself to see into the lives of celebrities. How many of it can you really trust? Do they really act that way in real life? Are any of it staged? Almost everything is real. It only takes good editing (good for production, not necessarily for the cast) to turn something trivial into a big deal, a good thing into bad. Krista and Becca definitely captured that in this book. 

About 61% of the book I was like this:

The other 36% like this:

And the rest:

I take back everything I ever said about Rose when it comes to her being so frigid. I can relate to her, about wanting to lose her virginity to a guy who would stick around. But I didn't expect for her to be a submissive in bed. She's a very fierce and strong woman and I thought that it would translate into her sex life.

"She didn't wish to rule a man in bed. She wanted to be ruled. But she didn't know how to ask without feeling weak. So she thought being alone, unfulfilled sexually was the better option. I'm here to tell her it should have never been a fucking solution in the first place."

 And trust me when I say Connor and Rose are amazing together as lovers. 

Connor is a perfect fit for Rose. The yin to her yang. The Clyde to her Bonnie. They are not very different from each other but the more I get to know them, I feel that they complement each other more rather than these two people who are together because they are alike. Not to mention the way they were so in sync with one another most of the time.

"That's the thing about being fucking smart—I  understand her better than she understands herself."

In a word, I guess towards the ending, it was really unpredictable. I was flummoxed by the change in the wedding plans but after two minutes I started screaming internally because I did not see it coming. And I liked it. LOVED IT.

Kiss the Sky is a story of a sister's sacrifice for her family. A son's desire for a family he never had. A woman's struggle with intimacy. And a man's search for the most important things in life.

Congratulations on your achievement at haunting me for months to come. Now I will cry in a corner because Connor just basically made me rethink of my choices in men.

Read and Review #20 - Truce: The Historic Neighbor From Hell (R.L Mathewson)

Title: Truce: The Historic Neighbor From Hell

Author: R.L Mathewson
Publication date: 1 November 2013
Publisher: Smashwords
Get a copy! Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

This is the story before everything..

Elizabeth knows what’s expected of her, perfection. She’s the daughter of an Earl and expected to marry well, say and do the right things with a smile on her face when inside she’s dying for a chance to escape. Thanks to an inheritance her godmother left her years ago, her chance will come with her next birthday. Her hopes of escape abruptly end when Robert, her childhood nemesis that she hasn’t seen in over fourteen years, comes back into her life and does everything he can to drive her out of her mind even as he steals her heart.

He hated her.

At least, he tried to hate her, but it was so damn difficult to hate someone that he couldn’t live without. He tried to ignore her, tried to focus on anything but her, but nothing worked. Somehow she made her way into his heart and started to make him want things that he never though possible, made him smile and laugh even while she drove him out of his mind and started a legacy by turning him into…..

A Bradford.

My rating:
4 / 5

My review:

I started reading this with a friend, Stephanie who actually finished it faster than me. Sorry I took my time reading it. 

Truce is a historical romance; the beginning of the Bradford clan and tells a history of their great appetite. It tells a story of Elizabeth and Robert Bradford who were childhood enemies up till they were forced to marry out of convenience. 

So basically, like all the books in this series, the hero and heroine hate each other. Hate and love have something in common, passion. And I definitely saw passion between Elizabeth and Robert. She refused to have an arranged marriage and would rather wait to receive her inheritance. Robert would rather not marry at all. Typical hero and heroine of the 19th century British aristocracy. 

When they crossed paths again, they met as strangers. And what do you know? When they don't hate each other, they are actually good for each other. One thing led to another and well, let's just say it was pleasurable.

As the story progress, Robert and Elizabeth's relationship began to develop outside their hatred for each other. Passion was always brewing between them but instead of hating each other, they took a 180 turn in their feelings for each other. Did I ever mention that sex with a Bradford man is hot? No? Okay well, not to be disappointed because them boys got their genes (along with their love-making skills) from this man.

I give it a four star because of the writing. I read a lot of books by authors who write both contemporary and historical romances and still manage to feel the differences in their books. However, while reading this one it has that contemporary feel to it that rubbed me the wrong way because I really love how historical romances are written. Maybe 1940s-50s Western but not exactly 1800s British society. It's a good and entertaining read, fully recommended for anyone who loves the Neighbor from Hell series. A refreshing change from the contemporary ones.

Read and Review #19 - A Promise of More (Bronwen Evans)

Title: A Promise of More (The Disgraced Lords #2)

Author: Bronwen Evans
Publication date: 15 April 2014
Publisher: Random House Publishing - Loveswept

Synopsis:

In the second novel in Bronwen Evans’s sexy new Disgraced Lords series, two very independent souls find themselves fighting to resist a deepening passion.

When Beatrice Hennessey sets out to confront Lord Coldhurst, the notorious rogue who killed her brother in a duel, her intent is to save her family from destitution. She’s determined to blackmail the man into a loveless marriage. She’ll make the wealthy Lord Coldhurst pay for the rest of his life. But while greeting his ship, Beatrice takes a tumble into the Thames—only to be fished out by a pair of strong masculine arms that tempt her to stay locked in their heated embrace forever. That is, until she realizes those arms belong to Sebastian Hawkestone, Lord Coldhurst himself.

The little drowned mermaid has an interesting proposition indeed; one that Sebastian is surprised to find quite agreeable. Although he’s had women more beautiful, she is pleasing to the eye, and besides, it’s time he fathered an heir. Beatrice promises to be the ideal wife; a woman who hates him with an all-consuming passion is far too sensible to expect romance. However, it isn’t long before Sebastian’s plan for a marriage of convenience unravels, and he’s caught up in the exhilarating undertow of seduction.

My rating:
3 / 5

My review:

*ARC generously given by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Okay, when I first read this book I thought that it was a beginning to a really good story. But towards the middle, I get overwhelmed by the sudden rush of emotions and passion that came out of nowhere that kind of doubled me over.

Because here's the thing. There's just too much going on that didn't need to be told. All I feel was emotion and to be honest these emotions are redundant at times. Don't get me wrong, I love gut-wrenching moments and crying over revelations but somehow I felt detached from this book.

Basically, there's a story. I have to admit I didn't read the first book but although this could be a stand-a-alone, it's barely holding itself together. At first I was curious about the Libertine Scholars, the six handsome titled lords who were friends and are the backbone of this series. But then, THEN, Sebastian asked Beatrice who the Libertine Scholars were and she started listing them ONE by ONE.

Why? Their names were jam-packed in a paragraph along with their titles and mind you, there were 5 other names to memorize because they appear in the book at random times. It's like the author wants all of them to have equal appearance in the book but really I can only remember 3 of them. Quite a feat I must say, with the emotions brewing in every page.

Sebastian and Beatrice's lovestory is mediocre at best. Sure, there were moments where I felt a lump in my throat when they were fighting and a burst of emotion rolled in after. But it died down quickly because the writing was prolonging the moment and I ended up skimming the whole scene. And also, how could you think about your brother's death and still get aroused rather fiercely five minutes later?

It's an okay read for me. Unfortunately, it won't be a memorable one. The writing is good, but the pacing needs work. The climax felt, well, not satisfying enough. I always love a marriage of convenience and this book definitely hit the emotional part of it. It's just that, there was lack of back story and it felt rushed, like the author spent too much detail in one scene and lacking in another. 

Read and Review #16 - When a Lord Needs a Lady (Jane Goodger)

Title: When a Lord Needs a Lady

Author: Jane Goodger

Publication date: 6 February 2014

Publisher: Kensington Books

Synopsis:

Lord Graham Spencer needs a wife. 

But not just any girl will do. She must have the money to save his dilapidated estate and desperate tenants. So when he meets a charming American lady’s maid on the beach at Brighton, the last thing he ought to do is kiss her. 

Katherine Wright is hunting a titled husband.

Or at least her mother is. But Katherine can’t get the memory of a most inappropriate kiss out of her mind. The handsome stranger who took her in his arms in Brighton was only a valet, but even if she is an heiress, she’d rather spend her life with him than some stiff British aristocrat. Can true love survive two false identities, two scheming mamas, and two lavish house parties where all is revealed? It can…

My rating:

4 out of 5 wants to be rich heiresses

My review:

*ARC generously given by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I remember reading a bunch of contemporary romances and new adult books before getting started on this book and it was like a breath of fresh air where I don't have to deal with tacky instant attraction (although this book does have instant attraction) and unnecessary ignores. 

Graham Spencer was a broke marquess. Like dead broke. He could barely keep any servants and most of the furnitures in his home were sold so he could provide for his tenants and estate. And that was why he needed to marry a rich heiress. Fast. He was always on the lookout for meetings with heiresses and was known for the increasing debt he had accumulated from his father's reign as a marquess. He was also known to be very cold and distant company during social events, which also contributed to him not being able to find a wife who he could tolerate. While holidaying in Brighton Beach, he stumbled upon Katherine Wright, thinking she was a lady's maid and introduced himself as a valet to hide his real identity and to get closer to her. 

Katherine Wright was a rich heiress in a search for a titled husband, as do most American heiresses at the time. Instead, she met Gray, a valet while out walking in Brighton Beach. Her dress suggested her to be a maid, as to not gain attention from everyone else. Charmed by Gray, she agreed to continue meeting him and they were soon involved in a whirlwind romance. Until her sudden departure to attend a very important social event. 

The two lovers were soon reunited, no longer under false pretences but were met with more obstacles that led one further away from the other. 

I like historical romances for one thing, innocence. It was a fast, sweet romance between Graham and Katherine. I enjoyed this book immensely (probably because I hadn't read any historical romances in a while). I cried towards the end because holy shit I'm a crier and the part where Graham and Katherine's relationship began to take a downside, I really felt the emotions portrayed by both of them.

However, it was missing that one thing, probably the lack of climax (not sexually). 

I still enjoyed it but that one kick I needed in the book was missing and so I kicked one star out of my rating.

Read and Review #15 - At Any Price (Brenna Aubrey)

Title: At Any Price (Gaming the System #1)
Author: Brenna Aubrey
Publication date: 9 December 2013
Publisher: Silver Griffon Associates
Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Achievement Unlocked: Geek Virgin 

When Mia Strong, proud geek-girl and popular gaming blogger, auctions off her virginity online, she knows she'll make waves. But what she will not be making is a love connection. Her rules are set in stone: One night. No further contact. It's a desperate step, but it's the only way she can go to medical school and pay her mother's mounting hospital bills. 

Difficulty Level: Millionaire CEO 

Adam Drake, the enigmatic auction winner, is a software prodigy who made his first million at seventeen. Now, in his mid-twenties, he's sexy, driven and--as CEO of his own gaming company--he's used to making the rules. Before Mia knows what's happening, he's found the loophole in the rules of her auction. Every stipulation she's made to protect her heart gets tossed by the wayside. She can't tell if he's playing her...or if he's playing for keeps.

My rating:

5 out of 5 starts gaming after reading this book

My review:

PERFECTION.

I was a little hesitant about reading this book when I first saw it. I mean, auctioning your virginity to a bunch of strangers, especially online is really bizarre and risky. There are perverts out there who would do anything to get a good fuck online and that's the scariest thing about the Internet. But okay, I have to read this to see how it goes. 

And I was blown away! 

I mean, there's Mia, gamer and blogger who spends her days playing games, studying, working as an orderly and blog about her games. She's pretty normal actually (because I do that and I don't know how I stay awake most of the time without coffee). She's auctioning her virginity for a good reason and she actually took it rather seriously, going over the rules and making sure her best friend, Heath (a law student I think) deal with the bidders before approving them. 

And in comes Adam Drake, who at the first meeting looked very arrogant, cold and had a hard exterior. Not to mention extremely good looking. In other words...

He also laid down his own rules, outwitting Mia at every turn. He managed to soften up around her, protecting her even. But because of his past, he would shrink away whenever they get too close and that leads to tons of sexual frustration in this story. 

Did I even mention the amount of sexual frustration that goes on in this story!? 

There are shit tons of them and I found myself yelling 'GET IT OVER WITH ALREADY!' every time they tease each other with kisses and touches. The connection between Mia and Adam is so strong but yet I felt like it's not enough. Even to the end I still feel like there's this huge barrier between them even after all their issues are laid out and no secrets are left (at least I hope so).

I am obsessed with this book. I cannot wait for the next one. Some might read this book and think, aww shit that's a whole lot of teasing and sex! But I like the way it's written. Not too much that it becomes tacky. Also, I was frustrated half of the time because I only get to read Mia's POV and I am dying to know Adam's. Maybe in the next book?